Use axes or chainsaws to fell trees using knowledge of tree characteristics and cutting techniques to control direction of fall and minimize tree damage.
National median · BLS
$52,100
▼ -3.34%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$57,110
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
3,130
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Fallers
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$35,180
25th
$41,360
Median (50th)
$52,100
75th
$63,390
90th — top pay
$82,360
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Fallers
BLS projects employment of fallers to decline 9.9% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 500 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
4,300 → 3,900
-400 jobs
Projected change
-9.9%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
500
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
30.4% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Fallers salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Fallers
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Operation and Control3.1
Operations Monitoring3.1
Critical Thinking3.0
Judgment and Decision Making3.0
Monitoring3.0
Time Management2.9
Complex Problem Solving2.8
Equipment Maintenance2.8
Repairing2.8
Troubleshooting2.8
Top knowledge areas
Mechanical3.3
Production and Processing3.0
Public Safety and Security2.7
Mathematics2.5
English Language2.5
Telecommunications2.2
Transportation2.0
Education and Training1.9
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordAssisi CompilerAssisi Software Assisi InventoryAssisi Software Assisi ManagerAssisi Software Assisi ResourceBCS Woodlands Software The Logger TrackerBCS Woodlands Software Woodlands TrackerESRI ArcViewGeographic information system GIS systems
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What fallers do
Saw back-cuts, leaving sufficient sound wood to control direction of fall.
Control the direction of a tree's fall by scoring cutting lines with axes, sawing undercuts along scored lines with chainsaws, knocking slabs from cuts with single-bit axes, and driving wedges.
Stop saw engines, pull cutting bars from cuts, and run to safety as tree falls.
Select trees to be cut down, assessing factors such as site, terrain, and weather conditions before beginning work.
Measure felled trees and cut them into specified log lengths, using chain saws and axes.
Insert jacks or drive wedges behind saws to prevent binding of saws and to start trees falling.
Assess logs after cutting to ensure that the quality and length are correct.
Appraise trees for certain characteristics, such as twist, rot, and heavy limb growth, and gauge amount and direction of lean, to determine how to control the direction of a tree's fall with the least damage.
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Fallers, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $52,100.
